Santa Rosa police are investigating a double murder-suicide they say involves a husband and their two young children.

"The father took custody of the kids on Father's Day," explained Lt. Cregan, adding that the mom went to pick up the kids in the evening and that when no one was there, she called to report a child custody violation.

According to officials, they received a call for assistance from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department reporting their discovery of multiple deaths in the 700 block of Slater Street in Santa Rosa.

The mother, who lives in Sonoma County, called the sheriff's department.

Sheriff's Office deputies say they made multiple attempts to contact the father and check the welfare of the two children. The deputies eventually entered the residence and located both children, and their father, deceased in the residence. The father was found hanging in a bedroom with the two children nearby. The cause of death of the two children is still undetermined, pending an autopsy.

Santa Rosa Police say a father killed his two small children, then took his own life. Kids were center of custody dispute. pic.twitter.com/ptuB1flDul